Bristol now a destination for cruise ship lineThe 214-foot American Spirit, tied up at the Herreshoff Marine Museum's South Wharf Wednesday morning, sailed to town Tuesday evening.BRISTOL – It's not quite the Love Boat, but American Spirit is bringing something Bristol has never had before — cruise ship tourists.
The 214-foot ship from Connecticut-based American Cruise Lines has been paying the town regular visits for about two years now, making brief visits to a town that is becoming more and more of a tourist destination. The ship docks at the Herreshoff Marine Museum's South Wharf, giving about 100 passengers each cruise a chance to see a classic New England town up close.
Vicky White, a coordinator at the Bristol Visitors Center, said she has been trying to tie the cruise ship passengers into a web of "geo-tourism" around the town.
"We had a vision beyond just having people walking around downtown," she said, explaining the focus on museums and other historical destinations. "It's wonderful to see the museums live up to their full potential."
These museums and several businesses have felt the effect, and welcome the increased attention. Isaac Howe, the waterfront manager for the Herreshoff Marine Museum, said museum officials offer several tours per day for the passengers.
"It's extremely advantageous for us to bring in that many people," said Mr. Howe, who helps coordinate the ship's regular arrivals and departures.
"Everyone has some kind of relation to the sea here. There's a lot of synergy with the town, and everyone benefits from it coming here."
Why Bristol?
The director of marketing for American Cruise Lines, Tim Beebe, said the company chose Bristol as a destination because of its history.
"We go to places of maritime history and historical significance," he said, adding that the line's clientele is not the typical cruise-goer.
"We carry a typical customer that is well-traveled and well-experienced ... Everybody on board has shared interests. They're all on there for the same reasons. They come a nice little group, and most of them will travel with us again."
Bristol is a regular stop on one of the line's several cruises, a seven-day New England island tour that starts at Conley's Pier in Providence and visits New Bedford, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Bristol, Newport and Block Island before heading back to Providence.
Skipper Michael Snyder, has been on the water all of his life, and the last three and a half have been spent aboard American Spirit. He works in shifts of about eight weeks on the boat and two weeks off.
Because the cruise ship is so big, the Herreshoff wharf is one of the few in Bristol that can accommodate it. It is the deepest, longest and widest dock in the harbor, Mr. Howe said, and it also helps that the vessel draws only six feet of water.
Capt. Snyder said it's always great to visit Bristol, and the staff at the Herreshoff Marine Museum are accommodating.
"They seem to welcome us here. Bristol is a real friendly place."
Passengers from the American Spirit go over their tourist maps of Bristol while they wait for a ride aboard a tourist trolley provided for free by Roger Williams University.Impressions of Bristol
The American Spirit arrived in Bristol this Tuesday around 11 p.m., about 12 hours ahead of the ship's scheduled Wednesday morning arrival. Capt. Snyder adjusted travel plans because of a storm expected to blow into the Vineyard Wednesday morning. However, the passengers said this gave them more time to explore Bristol.
"The houses are beautiful around here," said Ruth Ann Montgomery, a resident of Dallas, Texas.
She was traveling with her friend, fellow Dallas resident Joan Stevenson, because they had never seen this part of the country before. Both were amazed at the patriotism shown in town, from flags on homes to the red, white and blue stripe down Hope Street. They also marveled at how clean the town and its harbor is.
"There is not one bit of trash in the water out there," Ms. Montgomery said. "Everything is so well-maintained. [Your town] is pristine."
Another pair of visitors, Sis and Paul Laporte of Arnaudville, La., agreed that the town is gorgeous. Along with about a dozen others, they were taking a trolley ride to several scenic spots in Bristol, including Mt. Hope Farm, Blithewold Mansion and Gardens and the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology.
The trolley is a free service provided from June to late August by Roger Williams University. As far as Ms. White knows, Bristol is the only destination on the tour to provide a trolley specifically for the cruise passengers.
Tom Fitzgerald, an anthropology professor at the University of North Carolina's Greensboro campus, said this is the third cruise he's taken with American Cruise Lines. He's on the tour with his partner, Frank Saunders.
"You always make some new friends," he said, adding that before he visited Bristol, he only knew of its namesake, Bristol, England.
"There are just some beautiful spots here."
He planned on hitting a few antique stores and visiting the Herreshoff Maritime Museum.
Economic boost
Many business owners said the cruise ship has had a small but welcome effect on their sales. Paul Mancieri, the owner of Leo's Restaurant on Hope Street, said it's normally busy Wednesday afternoon, so it can be hard to tell if the cruise ship is causing the increase.
"We're always busy, so it's difficult to measure," he said. "It's nice to have the cruise ships in though."
Alfred Brazil, the owner of Alfred's Antiques and Gifts, said that every once in a while someone will purchase a piece, such as a lamp or a small table, and have it shipped back home. While the business from the cruise isn't tremendous, he still thinks it's "a great idea to have the ship come here."
Mr. Mancieri said the cruise brings in a different type of customer. Since most are having fun on a vacation, they don't mind splurging a bit on appetizers or a few drinks.
"They're charmed by the small town, it's a good customer to have."

By Stephen Greenwell
sgreenwell@eastbaynewspapers.com

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The American Spirit at a glance
Year built: 2005
Length: 214 feet
Draft: Six feet
Number of lounges: 4
Number of decks: 4
Number of staterooms: 51
Speed: 14 knots
Capacity: 100 passengers
Builder: Chesapeake Shipbuilding,
Salisbury, Md.

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